Verb

(en verb)

(lb) To make strong or stronger; to add strength to; to increase the strength of; to fortify; to reinforce.

:

*(William Shakespeare) (c.1564–1616)

*:Let noble Warwick, Cobham, and the rest,/ With powerful policy strengthen themselves.

*1851 , Anonymous, Arthur Hamilton, and His Dog

*:A little hardship, and a little struggling with the rougher elements of life, will perchance but strengthen and increase his courage, and prepare him for the conflicts and struggles of after years.

(lb) To animate; to give moral strength to; to encourage; to fix in resolution; to hearten.

*(Bible), (w) iii. 28

*:Charge Joshua, and encourage him, and strengthen him.

*

*:"A fine man, that Dunwody, yonder," commented the young captain, as they parted, and as he turned to his prisoner. "We'll see him on in Washington some day. He is strengthening his forces now against Mr. Benton out there.."

(lb) To augment; to improve; to intensify.

(lb) To grow strong or stronger.

Verb

To hold up; to lift on high; to elevate.

* '>citation

To keep erect; to support; to sustain; to keep from falling; to maintain.

*

*

* {{quote-book

, year=1872 , year_published=2009 , edition=HTML , editor= , author=James De Mille , title=The Cryptogram , chapter= citation , genre= , publisher=The Gutenberg Project , isbn= , page= , passage=Uttering such broken ejaculations Mrs. Hart burst into a passion of tears, and only Lord Chetwynde's strong arms prevented her from falling. / He upheld her. }}

To support by approval or encouragement.

* 1748 . . Enquiries concerning the human understanding and concerning the principles of moral. London: Oxford University Press, 1973. § 18:

but there was still a connexion upheld among the different ideas, which succeeded each other.